Disclaimer; I do not own the Mortal Instruments or any of the characters. Unfortunately, this includes Jace. I am not Cassandra Clare therefore the characters might be out of character.
I've always wanted to follow in my father's footsteps; to have that power and respect that he has. But no one will help me. They say he is a villain, a monster. The Shadowhunters. I don't understand because he is one of them. Only, he believes we are better than the filthy Downworlders who are scurrying around this world like they have a right to be here. They are the monsters. Not my dad. He wants what is best for us and I will find a way to train and be like him.
The problem is, he can't teach me to fight. He has to attend to business while running from the Clave. Mother told me, before she ran from us, that if I wanted to learn to be a Shadowhunter I'd have to leave my father and get a new identity and never reveal that Valentine is my dad. So now, I am not Clarissa Morgenstern. I'm Clary Fray now and I'm going to the New York Institute.
For a moment I could only stare. I had heard of the Institute but I suppose you can't really know how…gothic it can look. I tilt my head back and immediately look forward again. The spires stretch far into the sky. The stone is a grey that has dirty smudges that gives the building a personality. It looks like a gothic cathedral- both beautiful and sinister. I found myself wondering how many tourists this building would attract if the mundanes could see what this building really looked like. They only saw it as a filthy, boarded up, falling apart building.
"Here goes nothing," I mutter as I walk up the uneven stone steps to the large arch doorway. As I lift my hand to the black rusted doorknocker I notice my hand is shaking slightly. Shame washes over me. What would my father think? I am the daughter of Valentine Morgenstern, I can do this, I think to myself as I take a deep breath and knock three times. I then see a brass doorbell and cringe inwardly. I press the button and jump, surprised at how shrill the bell sounds.
I wait. Surely they would have heard that bell; maybe I should press it again? Maybe they're not there, maybe they-
The door opens and I notice it's as noisy as it looks it would be. It creaks at the hinges indicating it's age. A girl stands there looking curious and slightly bored to see me standing on her doorstep.
"Um… Hi. My name is Clary Fray. I have- er- just found out I'm a Shadowhunter and I require training and a place to stay." I stumble over my words. Should I have said that? Why isn't she replying?
The girl flipped her long black hair over her shoulder and turned her head so she could yell "MUM" in what I assumed was the direction where everyone else was. A silence followed then a metallic groan sounded.
"What is it, Isabelle? And why do you have to yell? I am not your servant, young lady. Do not expect me to come running every time you-" the woman, who was a spitting image of 'Isabelle' but with a couple of wrinkles on her face and a stray grey hair mixed into the black, had just noticed me standing there awkwardly. "Oh, hello, can I help you?"
I opened my mouth to repeat what I just told the younger girl when Isabelle repeated it herself. The older woman nodded once and Isabelle opened the door further to let me step inside.
"My name is Maryse and this is my daughter Isabelle. I run the Institute." She offered her hand which I found a little odd but nonetheless placed my hand in hers and shook lightly.
"Clary Fray," I withdrew my hand. "I'm sorry for just arriving but I wasn't sure what else to do."
"It's fine. We look out for one another. If you'll follow me I'll show you a room we have ready." She started walking down the hallway where an elevator was located at the end.
"Do you have any other Shadowhunters visiting?" I ask as I examine some of the religious pictures that line the walls.
"No, we don't have many staying here. We live here along with my husband, two sons and adopted son."
"Don't forget the cat," Isabelle piped in. I shot her a confused look. She smiles and I feel that jealousy you feel when you meet someone who is so beautiful it doesn't seem fair. "He gets offended if you forget about him." Maryse entered the lift and stepped aside so me and Isabelle could go in. It was only then I noticed that like the building, this lift looks old and rusty.
"Is this safe? The elevator, I mean, it looks a bit… unstable." Isabelle laughed outright until Maryse gave her a warning glare.
"It works and we're getting it renovated soon, so you'll only have to worry about it for a little while." She pulled the leaver and the lift shuddered before moving upward. "If you're sure you want to do this, you can start training tomorrow."
I looked at her surprised. I was expecting having to gain there trust, I hadn't thought that they would offer me a chance to start training tomorrow. I can make my dad proud.
"Yes, that sounds great. Thank you."